Oh, and it is for charity. Good for you. As of Thursday the “Ice Bucket Challenge” had raised over $41 million. And yes, it’s probably true that this kind of cash would not have been raised if a long list of famous people hadn’t videoed themselves dumping ice water on themselves.

But a couple of points. First, wasn’t the original idea that you were challenged to EITHER dump water on your head OR make a charitable donation? Because that’s what President Obama did when he was challenged by Ethel Kennedy. (Which was, admittedly, a pretty big guilt trip. Ethel Kennedy is 86 years old and she’s also, well, a Kennedy, so ignore that challenge at your peril.)

So Obama did the graceful thing. He donated $100 to charity. Which, correct me if I’m wrong, is the point, right? They’re trying to raise money. So, technically, the more socially responsible action is to refuse to take the challenge and donate money.

In a clever little entry in Wikipedia, it is pointed out that there are two versions of the challenge. One is that you dump water on yourself and donate $10. Or you don’t do it and donate $100.

The other version is that you film yourself taking a bucket bath — scream and run around in circles — and you’re done. No donation. This, Wikipedia says, has led to charges of “slacktivism,” which it describes as ”feel-good” measures, in support of an issue or social cause, that have little or no practical effect other than to make the person doing it take satisfaction from the feeling they have contributed.”

Or, in the case of celebrities, potential slacktivism with an added dose of free publicity.

So with all that in mind, I think the president handled himself perfectly. The bad break is that, well, he’s the president, so Ethel wasn’t the only one who thought of him. So far, and this might be an incomplete list, he has been challenged by LeBron James (fair enough), Weird Al Yankovic (Show of hands: How many thought he’d be back in the public eye?) and Justin Bieber (Mr. President you can officially pretend that never happened.)

As near as I can tell Obama’s response was simple and direct: I gave at the office. Which, again, was the original point.